Radiator front



'J. W. OSTEN RADIATOR FRONT Sept. 8, 1936.

Filed Oct. 28, 1935 M L. r 3 z( ya 4.- z |1/f/ 7 fo *.2 wz@ s. 2 f wr m 2.424%: ,/m l; 1

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Patented Sept. 8, 1936 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l' 2,053,576 e RADIATOR FRONT Joseph Osten, Chicago, 111.. Appncation october 2s, 1935, serial No. 47,010 s claims. (o1. 2st- 1.22)

In driving automobiles in cold weather, the amount of air admitted through the radiator shell isfrequently in excess of the amount required for cooling the engine, so that the en- 5 gine does not heat up properly. The excess amount of cold air admittedV into the vopen radiator shell also acts to keepthe water in the cooling system at a low temperature, so that any hotA water heaters connected with the. water system are slow to respond and consequently are not very eicient in supplying heat for the heating of the interior of an automobile.

The present invention 'relates Vto radiator fronts which are conveniently and removably attachable to cover the major portion of the radiator shell grille, and said radiator front is constructed with flaps, one or more of which may be turned down and snapped into open position to expose a larger area of the radiator shell grille in case the engine heats up too much.

It is an object of this invention to provide an .automobile radiator front or cover which will cover the major portion of the radiator shell grille, and which furthermore is constructed with one or more flaps which are movable into positions for varying the exposed area of the radiator shell grille.

' It isalso an object of this invention to provide a radiator front or cover having means for securing the same to the radiator shell and to the radiator shell grille, and constructed to permit sections of the front to be folded over and releasably attached to the main bodyY of the front to increase the area of exposure of theradiator shell grille when required.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an automobile radiator front or cover constructed of a `flexible material :and having attaching means secured thereto for releasably securing the front or cover to a radiator shell and grille, said front or cover being constructed to permit portions thereof to be opened or folded over.r to increase the area of exposure of the radiator shell grille.

` Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the ldisclosures in thespeciiication and the accompanying drawing.

r'The invention trated in the ydrawing fully described.

On the drawing:

(in a preferred form) Yis illusand hereinafter more Figure 1 isa fragmentary front` elevation of an automobile illustrating the radiator shell and grille .having mounted Y thereon an improved front or cover inclosed position embodying the principles of this invention.

' Figure 2 is a view. similar to Figure 1 illustrating the flaps turned'down and buttoned in open position. I i y Figure 3is an enlarged. top plan View of the radiator front showing the retaining straps par-A tially bent into position to iit around the radiator shell and illustrating inv dotted lines the nal bent over position of the ends of the retainingistraps to project between the shell and the core of the radiator. f

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line IV`IV of Figure 1 illustrating the spring fasteners of the retaining buttons in elevation.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of oneof the retaining buttons illustrating the spring fastenr ers and the flexible retaining straps for holding the buttons secured to the fabric of the radiator front.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front view of a radiator shell having secured across the grille thereof Y a modiiied form of lradiator front or cover in closed position and illustrating'in dotted lines thehalf opened position of a single flap.

Figure 7 is a similar view illustrating the flap in its lowermost completely opened position.

As shown on the'dravving:A i v I The reference numeral I indicates an automobile hood, the front end of which ts against the rear portionv of the automobile radiator shell 2, the front of which is provided with a grid or grille comprising a plurality of perforated parallel grille rods or bars 3.

Figures 1 to 5 inclusive'illustrate one form of radiator front or cover comprising an apron or shield constructed of a selected fabric. ThiI shield 4 is shaped to conform tothe coniiguration of the lower Vthree-fourths of the radiator grille, thereby leaving approximately the upper quarter areaof the grille exposed, as clearly illustrated in Figure l. The shield 4 has the margins thereof properly seamed. The upper edge of the shield 4 is cut at themiddle portion with the cut extending downwardly to the point 5, thereby having the slit-in the upper portion of the shield form two side aps 6 and'l. The flaps 6 and l are adapted to be folded over along the linesL 8 and 9 respectively into the position illustrated in Figure 2 to expose a greater area .of the upper portion'of the grille.` Secured to the corner of the iiap 6 isa snap socket I0 and a snap buttonll adjacentthereto.H The snap socket lil, when the iiap is closed, is `adaptedto snap overasnap button l2 mounted on the corner of theadjacent 55 iiap 'I. Secured to about the middle portion of one side of the shield 4 is a snap socket I3 which is directly opposite a snap socket I4 secured along the opposite edge of the shield. The socket I3 is positioned to receive the snap button II when the flap B is in its open position, While the snap socket I4 is adapted to receive the snap button I2 when the iiap I'I is swung downwardly as illustrated in Figure 2.

Extending across the rear of the top margin of the apron or shield 4 is a supporting strap I5 to which the upper corners of the shield 4 are securely fastened. 'I'he supporting strap l5. extends beyond each of the sides of the shield 4 to form hollow sleeves Within which are `inserted metal straps or bars of light weight material which are adapted to be exed or bent over, as hereinafter more fully described. The sleeves with the metal inserts contained therein form mounting arms I6. The flexible arms are adapted to be bent around thev sides of the radiator shell and inserted between the hood `and the radiator shell, after which the end portions of the arms. t6 are adapted to*l be bent inwardly, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3-to extend into the space between the inner side, of the radiator shell andthe core of the radiator- A flat steel strap spring If'l has theV middle portion thereof rigidly secured or fastened to the middle ot the lower portion of the shield It against the'inside surface o! the shield. Thestrapspring I'I has the end portions thereof deected to. form retaining hooks or fingers Hi. (Figure 4)1 which are adapted to: be inserted behind twoV of the grille bars 3, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4, to hold thev lower end of the apron or shield 4 secured against the iront ofi the radiator grille.

To assist in holding the sides ot Vthe lower portion of thev apron 4 against the grille, each side margin of the shield is provided with a button head |93 having rigidly.' secured therein the bight portion of a pair of` strap metal. snap, springs 2l)` whichl are deeoted. in opposite directions at 2l' allowing the strap springs 20E to fit together, as.` clearly illustrated in Figure. 4, to snap over grille bars 3. Extending through the button head I9 at substantiadly right' angles to the bight portion oi 'the snap springs k2l isL a exible metal` fastening strap 22, the endsv of which extend outwardly, asv illustrated in Figure 5, toV permit the button to be rigidly fastened to thev margin of the shield 4.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form oi radiator cover or front of a single multiple fold ap type of construction. I'nthis form of the radiator front the variousrmeans for securing the same in position on a radiator shell are the same asthose illustrated and described in connection with Figures 1' to 5 inclusive and like referencefnumerals are used to designate the like parts. The modified formof radiator front comprises an apron or shield 23-constructed of fabric or other suitablematerialhaving the edges thereoi' properly seamed and being of ashape to conform to the conguration of the grille of a radiator shield for a particular make and model of an automobile. As clearly illustrated: i-n- Figures 6 and 7, the shield extends from thebottom of the gri-lle upwardly to Within a short distance of the upper end thereof, leaving a section of the grille exposed at all'tiI-nes. The upper middle portion of the shield 23- is cut to provide a single flap 24 which extends substantially halfway down the shield and is adapted to be bent along the line 25 into a half open position or 'along the line 26 into a full open position to expose a larger area of the radiator grille. The radiator cover or shield is provided with a plurality of snap buttons 21 and snap sockets 28 which are arranged as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 to permit the iiap to be secured in either a half open position or in a completely opened position as desired.

It will of course be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range Withoutdeparting from. the principles of this invention, and it is therefore not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as--my invention:

1. A radiator front comprising a exible shield shaped` tosu-bstantially conform to the shape of an automobile radiator grille and of a size to leave the upper portion of the grille exposed, a flap.A forming. a part of the. shield and adapted to. loe.A opened to. expose a-4 larger area'of the radiatori grille, means for securing the hap. in closed and open positions, a strap-spring secured on the back of the lower lportion of the shieldfor engagement with radiator grille, barsto. hold the lower end ofthe shield in place, a strap secured across the back of the: upper margin of the shield and attached to the upperl corners of the shield, said strap having'the ends: thereo extending beyond the sides: of the shielch and flexible metal strips enclosed in the. projecting ends of the strap and. benda-ble around the frame of. the radiator shell-rior holding theupperportion of the radiator front secured in place.

2.A An automobile radiator front comprising a 'exib'le shield, a. flap forming a part, thereof, means on. the flap4 and on the shield for permitting the nap to.` be.l secured in either open or closed position, a. mounting spring secured on the back ofthe lower portion of the shield for engagement. with the radiator gri-lley bars, and normally straight iiexible molmtings at the upper end of the shield adaptedto be bentY around the trame of the. radiator shell to support the radiator front in position 3. An automobile radiator front comprising a iiexible shield formed to provide one: or more naps, snap fasteners secured to the shield to permit the apsto be secured in open and closed positions, a strap spring secured to the hack of thek lower portion of the shield for securing the shield in position on a radiator grille, retaining buttons. secured to. the sides. of the shieldr each of said buttons containingV strap springs for engaging over the. harsY of' the radiator grille to hold the sidesv of; the shield in place, a strap Secured acrossv the back. of the upper" portion of the shield and extending beyond the. sides.Y of the shield, and flexible metal-inserts engaged inthe end portions ofthe strap` to permitfthe same to be bent around the v frame of a radiator shell to hold the upper portion of Vthe shield vsecured in place. Y

4. An automobile radiator front4 for partially closing the radiator grille, said front comprising a shield of flexible material and'iormed to providea. flap, means on the shield and flap for holding the iiap. in closed and open positions, a spring member secured on the back of the lower portion of the shield for securing thelower' end of the shield in place, and s. strap. secured across the back of. the upper portion of the shield andihav-v ing the. endsof the: strap lledi with metal strips bendable for securing the upper portion of the shield in place on a radiator.

5. A radiator front comprising a ilexible shield formed to provide one or more flaps, means for securing the lower portion of the shield to a radiator grille, a flexible hollow strap secured across the back of the upper portion of the shield and extending beyond the sides of the shield, and flexible members in the projecting ends of the strap bendable around a radiator shell frame for securing the upper end of the shield in place on an automobile radiator.

6. An automobile radiator front comprising a flexible shield, ap means formed thereon, means for holding the ap means in closed and open positions, grille gripper means secured to the lower portion of the shield for securing the same on a radiator grille, and strap means on the upper end of the shield for engagement between the radiator shell and the automobile hood and bendable around the radiator shell frame.

7. An automobile radiator front comprising a exible shield including opening flaps, a strap spring secured on the back of the lower portion of the shield, a strap secured across and extending beyond the sides of the upper portion of the shield, and flexible metal bars in the end portions of the strap.

8. An automobile radiator front comprising a shield including an opening ap, and a mounting strap secured across and extending beyond the shield and having exible metal strips enclosed in the projecting ends thereof adapted to be bent around the radiator shell frame to support the radiator front in position.

' JOSEPH W. OSTEN. 

